the beginning of 2025
soy la misma newsletter
Like many of you, I’ve been glued to the news since the new administration. My subscription to the New York Times buzzes at me throughout the day with hourly breaking news notifications. It’s rather dangerous to my mental health but it feels like if I’m not paying attention then I’m not being my most informed self. To be informed means power to me. It means being the informant to the people that most need to hear the information. Yet, it has definitely brought me to the ‘what-ifs’, such as what if ICE does come to town and community members are deported? what if our rights as naturalized citizens are stripped from us? what if the people I most love are separated from me? what if the rights that so so so many people have fought for decades are instantly removed from each and everyone one of us — what then? These are only a few thoughts that I’m thinking about. I’m sure I’m not alone.
A few weeks back, I received an exciting email in my inbox from Movement Generation. They are joining adrienne marie brown to write and edit Murmurations, a column she started in 2021 with YES! Magazine. I’m stoked to read words, phrases, and ideas that may heal my uneasiness throughout this BS. Movement Generation is an incredible organiation. It hypes my education interest even more — many times, I’ve thought of looking into political education in my community since I don’t feel like I am doing enough of this inside the classroom in a rural public school district that bans Pride flags… It’s inspiring to see what radical transformation can be done in a local community through education.
In other personal news, I’ve been practicing the creative art form of braided essays. I’m taking a class with Chyana Marie Sage this winter, whom is releasing her memoir debut “Soft As Bones” in May. So far, we’ve read incredible excerpts from Ocean Voung and Terese Mailhot. But what really opened my eyes to this art form is “In Him We Have Redemption Through His Blood,” by Elissa Washuta. I’m not a gamer, but I have heard the game Read Dead Redemption and Elissa smoothly brings us in and out of her comfy couch, Indigenous lineage, and the video game. 10/10 recommend. The essay I’m working on has a story I tell too many times: law school. I used Elissa’s piece as a mentor text to braid my own experience at law school with that of my personal reasons for attending in the first place. I don’t think it’s at the place where I’m happy with it but it’s definitely grown into a beautiful braided essay, which I didn’t know how to do weeks before trying it out on my own. Writing is keeping me busy, as well as side projects that I’ve taken on while also working on my graduate school work for teaching. I’m trying to reel it back again. I don’t want to overdo myself, especially in the times we are trying to survive through.
To stay in a optimistic or gleeful mood, I watch a lot of tv. We know this. When I find a show I really like, I’m on glued to the end. It is a dangerous path too because the time I’m putting on shows could be going to writing or lesson planning. But sometimes, we just need to slump back into our couch and grab the remote and press play. Don’t you think? Here’s what’s been on my screen lately besides awards shows’ season:
Shows
Season 3, “Harlem” (cried by eyeballs out in the beautiful ending of the girls’ friendship)
Season 1 (and the only one), “How to Die Alone” — As the episodes progressed so did my love for this show. Unfortunately, the show will not be renewed for a Season 2. I’m so bummed for the fans (aka myself) and for Natasha!
Season 2, “Mo” WAS SO FRIGGIN GOOD. Another show that had me wiping my tears and nose. The theme around identity and family really had me pulling my heart.
Music
I’m expanding my music playlist this year as I’m going to the Hinterland Festival in Iowa this August (thanks to a sweet invite by a friend)! Here are a few of my favorites so far from the 2025 Hinternald Spotify Playlist:
Barn Nursery by hey, nothing
BELLYDANCING by INJI
Toro by Remi Wolf
I’ll leave you with a visually appealing poem that plays with white space.
Yaccaira Salvatierra
